tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87486781090640606442016-09-08T00:28:34.132-04:00Slightly Saucytwo minutes for looking so goodJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-31539995663223810832012-07-06T21:51:00.000-04:002012-07-06T21:52:13.476-04:00My 14 year old self is doing cartwheels<div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l_c6sgNS-to" width="420"></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Now let's sign Marty Murray and REALLY get the band back together!</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>In eighth grade, my world revolved around a few things: diagramming sentences, jamming out to Q102 ("Maria, Maria" whaaat?), playing Final Fantasy VIII, and loving Ruslan Fedotenko. He quickly replaced Simon Gagne as my favorite Flyer (yes, I was an annoying hipster fan back then too, but Rusty was just so goddamn excited and clutch!) and the first player that I ever met at the Carnival. (I couldn't speak then either. Oy.)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Fast-forward twelve years and now he's back. It's SUPER weird. Like, he hasn't played here as a Flyer since it was the First Union Center. That's TWO banks ago! Where has the time gone?! He's no longer Rusty the emergency call-up; he's a two-time Stanley Cup champion. I really haven't followed him much since he signed with the Pens (sidenote: he's quite the Atlantic division slut!), but I'm happy or at least amused to have him back. He was my first real fave, after all. Rusty was always good for dagger-to-the-heart goals against the Flyers, so it will be nice to be on the right side of that again and maybe even beat the Rangers, if he goes all Max Talbot: Secret Agent Man on them. I also can't wait to bust out all the knowledge that my freakish memory has retained, starting with, "Oh that's his first goal as a Flyer since 4/17/02. What, you didn't remember that?"</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-55686413140491509942012-04-14T14:21:00.001-04:002012-04-14T14:26:51.895-04:00"I can't. I can't"That was my text response after Giroux scored his hat trick, the second of the night, to help the Flyers to an 8-5 win and a 2-0 series lead over the Pens. Um, WHAT? I still don't even know if I can fully fathom the ridiculous insanity of this series. It's not a bloodbath so much as a defensive shit show. But I am seriously in love with the Flyers' lack of quit. They just don't give up and I hope that continues for <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/frequentflyers/Flyers-want-16-Knock-Knocks.html">14 more "Knock Knocks"</a>! Or at least two more wins against the Pens.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rpMM-MWAprk/T4m_BO09E-I/AAAAAAAAArE/XZrQl52R46g/s1600/580271_525760142019_171800219_30475155_626175093_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rpMM-MWAprk/T4m_BO09E-I/AAAAAAAAArE/XZrQl52R46g/s1600/580271_525760142019_171800219_30475155_626175093_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">So we put hats around our TV in celebration of the hat tricks.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">And yes, that's a top hat.</span></i></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-80956178163945834672012-04-09T21:08:00.000-04:002012-04-09T21:08:12.480-04:00That shit crayTwo Flyers games in two weeks?! And both featuring exciting things during warm-ups?! That shit is, in fact, cray. First up, we had Flyers-Bolts on 3/26. I love Foxy Lady Byng lifer Marty St-Louis, so we sat on the Tampa side for warm-ups (though I legit know about five guys on Tampa right now... kind of a buzzkill). Sitting on the opposing side is so nice, you can walk down like two minutes beforehand and still snag an ice row seat! However, the real excitement came in the waning minutes of warm-ups when someone at Tampa's blueline lofted a shot that hit the netting above us, skittered through, and literally fell at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Pops</span>' feet! And surprisingly, there was no bevy of children and drunk guys trying to retrieve it. In our row, there was me and Pops, a college-age couple, and a high school kid with his dad. And we all looked at each other, dumbfounded, so Pops simply picked up the puck and gave it to me. I never cared about getting a game puck before, but now that I have one, it's kind of the coolest thing ever, especially because there is a chunk randomly taken out of it?!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kWSxckswJ8/T4JPjQzdFAI/AAAAAAAAAq8/CuodmqY9xsA/s1600/DSC_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kWSxckswJ8/T4JPjQzdFAI/AAAAAAAAAq8/CuodmqY9xsA/s320/DSC_0463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>In the words of Doug Glatt, "It's official!"</i></span></div><br />I've never been able to sit ice row on the Flyers' side for warm-ups, but I somehow lucked into a seat there just to the left of the net last Thursday! Being so close was helpful because I have a fancy-pants-ish baby DSLR now so I can actually take non-shitty pictures! And it makes a fabulous snapping sound so I feel very important. The only thing is, I have to look through the viewfinder, so imagine my surprise when Talbot jumped into the glass in front of me!!11!!! Whaaat? I can honestly say that's never happened before, and I've been to a lot of pre-game skates in my day. Talbot then proceeded to skate away and bump into Read, all the while singing along with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zt8GWTZB5I">"Tonight Is the Night."</a> Love. This. Man. Giroux was also hanging around our section, and one point, so was Coburn! And I actually managed to capture both!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VaZSfOzRRR4/T4IkgG_Jw_I/AAAAAAAAAqc/himWvkQRWAI/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VaZSfOzRRR4/T4IkgG_Jw_I/AAAAAAAAAqc/himWvkQRWAI/s320/DSC_0202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">OH HAI.</span></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFnlRRvgmno/T4IlQYTPNRI/AAAAAAAAAqk/4GVNmrOORss/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFnlRRvgmno/T4IlQYTPNRI/AAAAAAAAAqk/4GVNmrOORss/s320/DSC_0214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>In case you were wondering, this is when time slowed down and "I Think We're Alone Now" started to play.</i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kYipYDGgTF0/T4ImFkp7J5I/AAAAAAAAAqs/9ITArVcJUqI/s1600/DSC_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kYipYDGgTF0/T4ImFkp7J5I/AAAAAAAAAqs/9ITArVcJUqI/s320/DSC_0179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Max giggling with Bryzy. Just 'cause.</i></span></div><br />For the game, we inadvertantly had AWESOME seats in section 123 which, FYI, is practically next to the Flyers' bench AND afforded us a fine view of the Flyers' end-of-the-year awards. I'm going to marry those seats. It was a fairly dull game but Read scoring the GWG on a third period breakaway was fantastic. Especially because these tickets were Moo's birthday gift!<br /><br />Oh, AND in between the Tampa and Buffalo games, I went to Chicago with my friend Timmi. I would have dragged her on a 5.5 hour bus ride to St. Louis for a Blues game, but there was no way to make that into a tantalizing offer. HOWEVER, she had to go to a school event one morning, so I decided that the best use of my time was obviously going to see <i>Goon</i>&nbsp;at 10:15 AM! The six dudes in the theater with me at that hour seemed equally excited to be there. The last game is SUPER intense on the big screen, and when Ross the Boss is walking through the snow with the bagpipes playing in the background, I almost peed my pants. And, of course, Marc-Andre Grondin is even lovelier (though decidedly more unwashed-looking... hmm) on the big screen. On a related note, I'm glad to see that the majority of our recent blog hits have been from people trying to find out more about this mysterious <i>petit chou</i>! Have you guys seen his awesome French-Canadian movie <i>C.R.A.Z.Y</i>? The whole thing has been uploaded to YouTube (with English subtitles!) and features a less douchy Grondin (though clothing is still optional... eep!) as a gay teen in a conservative fam. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYC7pSirSgU">The scene with "Space Oddity"</a> just breaks my heart every time. "Can you hear me Major Tom?" ZOMGtears.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUHvnrT1YsQ/T4It0rp58OI/AAAAAAAAAq0/mbJY7BKsNFI/s1600/tumblr_m0spw3Fls11r69ftmo1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUHvnrT1YsQ/T4It0rp58OI/AAAAAAAAAq0/mbJY7BKsNFI/s320/tumblr_m0spw3Fls11r69ftmo1_400.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Come on girls! Do you believe in love?</i></span></div><br />Oh yeah and THE PLAYOFFS START WEDNESDAY. Love it.Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-66404784730600312102012-03-21T20:25:00.002-04:002012-04-02T23:31:03.523-04:005 Reasons Why Goon Is Awesome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3J94Z6VtqoU/T2konc-gzBI/AAAAAAAAAqU/5JClC-SdXfQ/s1600/toughguys-goon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3J94Z6VtqoU/T2konc-gzBI/AAAAAAAAAqU/5JClC-SdXfQ/s320/toughguys-goon.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Welp, this is scary</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Hats off to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span> for pushing me, known movie-hater, to watch <i>Goon</i>&nbsp;because it was fan-freakin-tastic. I'll admit, I had my doubts through the first twenty minutes, but the rest more than made up for it. There's something for everyone: intensity, blood and expletives, a power-ballad-infused romance, the nice guy, the foxy douche, the terrifying bad-ass... Gah, so good!! (And not just because the Highlanders' logo is a total play on the Flyers' one!) Anyway, here are five reasons why I loved it so:</div><div><br /></div>1.) <b>Heart</b>: The motley crew in this film is just so damn likable. Stifler's character Doug (the goon) is super-polite and admits that he's found his niche as an enforcer because he "can protect people." Aww. Watching a "nice guy" navigate this unfamiliar realm of dramaliciousness (ie declaring himself to be a "beer and soup" kind of guy while his teammate does drugs) is refreshing. Doug is surrounded by many other, surprisingly nuanced characters (the grizzled enforcer nearing the end of his career, the failed first round pick, the soon-to-be-divorced team captain, the goalie looking to find his groove, the commitment-phobe girlfriend...) that just reel you right in. Even Jay Baruchel, often obnoxious in this movie, redeems himself when his character gives Doug an impassioned speech about his importance to the Highlanders. Underneath all the blood and expletives is a really enjoyable, character-driven film.<br /><div><br /></div><div>2.) <b>Ross "The Boss" Rhea</b>: Holy shit, the guy from 24/7 is beating the hell out of Stifler?! (And looking like Barry Melrose while doing it?!) Yes. Yes he is. And it is grand. Liev Schreiber brings such calm bad-assitude to this flick, especially when espousing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Pops</span>' favorite line: "I don't want to go out like some nancy-boy middle-aged fuck." It's just as good as when Schreiber's intoning profound things like <a href="http://youtu.be/g_N3WE0Wu7o">"Lives... so deeply intertwined with what happens in a game..."</a>&nbsp;in 24/7. (btw I think that is my fave scene from 24/7, perhaps because I'm obsessed with "Midnight City now?)</div><div><br /></div><div>3.) <b>This guy's face</b>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-at8_Z4J1GX4/T2kiH8_XhmI/AAAAAAAAAp8/sgabrAKtKBw/s1600/tumblr_m0dwqigPUE1qef71b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-at8_Z4J1GX4/T2kiH8_XhmI/AAAAAAAAAp8/sgabrAKtKBw/s320/tumblr_m0dwqigPUE1qef71b.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">So what if that A stands for "asshole"?</span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo from the&nbsp;<a href="http://fuckyeahmarcandregrondin.tumblr.com/">Fuck Yeah Marc-Andre Grondin tumblr page</a>,&nbsp;a fine resource w</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">hen you find yourself spontaneously in love with this man, as I did</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">!)</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Xavier Laflamme (played by Marc-Andre Grondin) is resident hottiecakes for the Halifax Highlanders. He's also got mad swag:&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DO1jDAOSpnE/T2ki6QTCioI/AAAAAAAAAqM/ON5FOyDyvLc/s1600/IMG_1795.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DO1jDAOSpnE/T2ki6QTCioI/AAAAAAAAAqM/ON5FOyDyvLc/s1600/IMG_1795.PNG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">In the immortal words of Young M.C.: Goodness sakin'</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>He's the guy you hate but also want to date... Grondin's weirdly magnetic that way, and of&nbsp;course, you start to root for his character as the movie goes on. Goddamn you, irresistible bad boys!&nbsp;Gorgeous face/charm aside, the fact that Grondin says in <a href="http://youtu.be/v4zMS4uRxuU">this old interview</a> that he's not super masculine and yet plays total a total ass/ladies' man in <i>Goon</i> is awesome. <a href="http://dorkshelf.com/2012/02/21/interview-marc-andre-grondin/">This interview</a> is also totes endearing as Grondin describes Laflamme as "a really huge douchebag" and goes on to poke fun at the role. Where has this dude been all my life?!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>4.) <b>The locker room speeches</b>: Led by their somewhat misguided greybeard captain, the team gets pumped for games by yelling inappro stuff. Also hilarious is the brown-nosing rookie, who just echoes everything the captain says: "Some of their guys are divorced..." "We're playing divorced guys!" By the end, though, the pre-game speeches do legit tug at the heartstrings: "You guys keep playing long after you've got no reason to!" Oh, if only "This is YOUR time!" could have slipped in for good measure...</div><div><br /></div><div>5.) <b>The crazy goalie</b>: With his mustache and heavy Canadian accent, it doesn't take much for Halifax goalie "Belchie" to get the laughs. The fact that he says things like, "Pass the dutchie, man!" only helps matters. I daresay he's Soph's favorite character. And, of course, he talks to his goal posts. He too probably thinks the universe is humaaangous big.<br /><br />In addition to the five aforementioned reasons, <i>Goon </i>also has an awesome soundtrack and is full of little touches that just "get" hockey, you know? (Like the importance of the logo in the locker room, Laflamme always chewing on his mouthguard, the enforcer as a protector that opens up room for the skilled players...) Ahh, love it. Soooo when does it come out on DVD?</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-15214348683200912832012-03-10T20:54:00.005-05:002012-03-10T20:58:51.838-05:00Wherein Pops and I realize that we are both smitten with Nick Lidstrom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lUS5-lopb3g/T1wCC-wcR6I/AAAAAAAAAps/uqPXDzGCpWg/s1600/nicklas+lidstrom+in+suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lUS5-lopb3g/T1wCC-wcR6I/AAAAAAAAAps/uqPXDzGCpWg/s320/nicklas+lidstrom+in+suit.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>In case you were wondering, this is the first google search result for "nick lidstrom hearts"</i></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Props to <a href="http://www.topshelfblog.com/">Top Shelf Blog</a> for this masterpiece!</i></span></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Pops</span> is impossible to buy birthday gifts for. I mean, the man is like Ghandi: he's good to go with just his two bowls and two spoons, and maybe two hot cups of green tea in the tea seat. This year though, with Moo's help, I was actually sort of creative and got him tickets to see the Flyers play the Red Wings on Mark Howe night! Going into this, I knew that Pops likes the Wings and had LOVED Mark Howe... but I soon learned that he was not leaving the dance with the girl he came with.<br /><br /><i>(One week before game)</i><br />Pops: "Next week, we get to see Nick!"<br /><br /><i>(Several days before game)</i><br />Pops: "When is Nick night? Tuesday?"<br /><br /><i>(Day of game)</i><br />Pops: "We get to see Nick tonight!!!"<br /><br />This is not entirely surprising because how can you not love Nick Lidstrom? The man is a golden god with a Swedish-Midwestern accent. I just didn't realize that Pops saw him as such. The only problem, though, is that Nick missed this game because he was day to freakin' day, something that I realized en route to the game and had Pops yelling expletives. No Nick, no Datysuk (Pops' other boy)... so we were left with Zetterdouche (copyright <a href="http://sportsquee.blogspot.com/2007/11/sportsquee-investigates-captains-of-nhl.html">Sportsquee</a>), which is all right I guess, but an affinity for striped '20s bathing togs cannot replace the magnetism of number five.<br /><br />ANYWAY, once we stopped crying over Nick's absence, we had a grand time at the game. Being there for only the fifth Flyers' number retirement ceremony (and the first since 1990!) was like the coolest thing ever.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p924i7heRZ0/T1wEQKnNwPI/AAAAAAAAAp0/0ZKJTD86kVM/s1600/DSC_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p924i7heRZ0/T1wEQKnNwPI/AAAAAAAAAp0/0ZKJTD86kVM/s320/DSC_0131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Headed for the rafters!</span></i></div><br />And I still can't believe we were in the same room as Gordie Howe. Gordie MF-ing Howe. Mr. Hockey. ZOMG. Pops was so excited by all the pomp, he even yelled out, "You go, Hank!" when some people booed Zetterberg as he presented Mark Howe with... whatever the Red Wings give as gifts in these awkward situations. Good times.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And most importantly (especially against a super-depleted Detroit squad), the Flyers got the W, bumping Pops' record to a staggering 2-0 this year! Happy birthday indeed.</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-71947313251834449302012-02-24T20:13:00.000-05:002012-03-10T20:15:00.697-05:00The gang cracks the case<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9S1xWJfiMJA/T1v4ipzpRKI/AAAAAAAAApc/dUJh365s7r8/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9S1xWJfiMJA/T1v4ipzpRKI/AAAAAAAAApc/dUJh365s7r8/s320/DSC_0168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The fact that this guy talks to his mom is definitely what will blow the case wide open</span></i></div><br />Today, we read Puck Daddy's <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/player-nhlers-trade-deadline-nothing-stress-tension-awkward-171904876.html">latest post</a> authored by the mysterious Player X--an active NHLer who has worn and not worn a visor, is knowledgable about NHLPA issues, and has been on a team that acquired a big name forward from the other conference at the trade deadline. Armed with this wealth of knowledge, we determined that we were could decipher Player X's identity. Sleuthy Soph actually did some research, which led to this text exchange:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "I think it's someone from the '05-'06 Oilers."<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">Me</span>: "Obvs it's Pronger."<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "No, in one of his other articles, Player X talks about Pronger."<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">Me</span>: "Well, Pronger probably talks about himself in the third person."<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "...True."<br /><br />Though optimistic early on, we soon realized that solving this mystery is like goddamn impossible.&nbsp;Christ, at least with&nbsp;<i>Dream Phone</i>, you know if your boytoy looks good in whatever he wears but is not wearing anything yellow!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dML_FDnw6Yw/T1v50fnn_7I/AAAAAAAAApk/M4YBFelHa7Y/s1600/dreamphoneguys1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dML_FDnw6Yw/T1v50fnn_7I/AAAAAAAAApk/M4YBFelHa7Y/s320/dreamphoneguys1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">All right, so which one of these fine fellows is Player X?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"I know who it is but I'm not telling, ha ha."</span></i></div><br /><br />I ultimately determined that some of these clues are deliberate lies to throw us off and that Player X is OBVIOUSLY Braydon Coburn. He is an NHLPA rep, has worn/not worn a visor, and saw a big-name player from the other conference come to his team, albeit a defenseman at the draft and not a forward at the trade deadline. BOOM.Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-13475976494487364312011-11-27T20:24:00.001-05:002011-11-27T20:35:26.733-05:00Party rock is in the house tonight?I haven't been to a live hockey game since&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span> was here last March. Withdrawal had set in, so I pulled the trigger Wednesday morning and secured seats to the Black Friday game! (Second row upstairs baby! Behind the net where the Flyers shoot twice. Those seats are pretty banging; you can really see the plays develop. The only downside is that all of the goals in this particular game were scored in the OTHER net. Gahhh.)<br /><br />Moving on: It's well-documented that I love warm-ups, and I was curious how the influx of new guys would affect the music selection. (...Pretty sure I'm the only person who would wonder about such a thing.) Instead of the rap/rock mix of the Carter-Richards era, we now have... FlyersTechnoDancePartaaaayyy (insert strobe lights here)! I can't lie, though, I actually did enjoy it quite a bit. (But I'm ALSO the<i>&nbsp;</i>girl who listens to "Party Rock Anthem" and "Like a G 6" when I have to stay late at work and copy. What can I say, every day I'm shuffling.) If you want a taste of the new warm-up jamz, <a href="http://youtu.be/SU88c0f5-h0">this</a> is the only song I was able to SoundHound. Pretty catchy, right?<br /><br />Another astute observation I had during warm-ups is that Jake Voracek is HUGE. Srsly. As <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">Kristin</span> put it, Voracek is "Pronger-sized" in person. But apparently, homeboy's only 6'2"... four inches shorter than The Pronger. Hmmm. Maybe it's just because he towers over his doppelganger Giroux?<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRht6EIK4kQ/TtGpnQiD2MI/AAAAAAAAApU/fLxe5ksizIM/s1600/100_7602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRht6EIK4kQ/TtGpnQiD2MI/AAAAAAAAApU/fLxe5ksizIM/s200/100_7602.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Giroux</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fLha8Akn3u8/TtGpOifcG2I/AAAAAAAAApM/zX1Ou3VG2IM/s1600/100_7618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fLha8Akn3u8/TtGpOifcG2I/AAAAAAAAApM/zX1Ou3VG2IM/s200/100_7618.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Voracek</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;SAME?!?!</div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i><br />Mysterious height aside, I'm enjoying Voracek a lot. Offensively flashy and underrated with that wild mane and bizzaro John Oates 'stache... he's like Hipsteroux, a less popular Giroux alternative!<br /><br />Speaking of Giroux, I'm glad to see that, even though he's the BMOC now, he still plays catch with Brayds during warm-ups. While Bryzy was meditating (when he's not the starter, apparently he doesn't really do too much), and Danny was flipping pucks to the kids in front of me (under the netting, no less! It was pretty damn impressive), Brayds and G passed the puck back and forth in front of the bench. I can't believe that I actually got to see Brayds (well, along with G and Voracek) post a multiple-point game. I feel like he's has been off to a strong start, occasional turn-overs and bruised kidneys (!!) aside. He's racked up a whopping eight points. EIGHT points, in twenty-two games! What in the name of Art Ross is this stay at home defenseman up to?! He's also been pissy (most notably fighting for freedom against douchebags like Downie), and he tends to cheerfully blab about his baby daughter in interviews. (He's definitely going to be that dad who's showing pictures of his baby to the check-out girl at the supermarket.) I think the hilarious <a href="http://asktheflyers.tumblr.com/">Ask the Flyers tumblr page</a> accurately summed up why he's doing so well:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-efJxww1SfLY/TtGgJ7se-yI/AAAAAAAAApE/975W_6341Pw/s1600/tumblr_luvu2efeh31r4ph92o1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-efJxww1SfLY/TtGgJ7se-yI/AAAAAAAAApE/975W_6341Pw/s320/tumblr_luvu2efeh31r4ph92o1_500.png" width="295" /></a></div><br />Also, I have to admit that I'm starting to warm up to Max Talbot. Of course I would; he's gritty and not super famous. Soph, who watched some of last season's 24/7, warned me that this would happen, but I, repulsed by his Pens past, didn't believe her. (Curse you, Soph!) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm6gxYHEVnY">In this charming clip</a>, Talbot wears a hideous Christmas sweater and warns a teammate's unsuspecting baby about dating hockey players. And <a href="http://youtu.be/dlnf9QIKNfQ">here</a>, he's called a douche by Fleury. If those aren't precursors to true love, I don't know WHAT is!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-flS9npev3oc/TtGetKpZ5zI/AAAAAAAAAos/XoL-HdilWKc/s1600/100_7573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-flS9npev3oc/TtGetKpZ5zI/AAAAAAAAAos/XoL-HdilWKc/s320/100_7573.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Hi Max! You're blurry. Of course.</span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(For once, user error is NOT [entirely] to blame for my shitty pictures! I need a new camera. The zoom button gets stuck and the arrow buttons no longer work. #buzzkill)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>So while this fine Black Friday tilt broke our Black Friday winless streak (hooray!) and included a buoyant round of "Ole Ole Ole Ole" when the game was in the bag (which was pretty hilarious to hear in person), I had to rush to get home for a surprise birthday party. When the Style Network talks about taking a look from day to evening, I'm pretty sure trading a Giroux tee and Chucks for an animal-print cardi and riding boots is NOT what they had in mind! Welcome to my life.Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-25193912242664477982011-11-13T17:39:00.000-05:002011-11-13T17:39:06.070-05:00Team USA's going DOWN, that's where it's going!<i>(It seemed fitting to borrow a line from epic trash-talker Wolf "The Dentist" Stansson for the title of this post)</i><div><br /></div><div>This week, Slighty Sucky and Foxy Lady Byng squared off in fantasy hockey... which led to the following EPIC chain of trash texting because Soph has our mutual beloved David Backes! (Sidenote: thank god I got an iPhone back in March... my dinky little Tracfone, with its inability to turn on and off, receive picture texts, or even tell me who was texting me, would not have allowed for such trash texting!)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "Oshie Koshie is my leading scorer! Mwahahaha :D"</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "Et tu, Timothy?! I feel so betrayed!"</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "Well, I realized that I'm going to have to do the impossible this week and not love David Backes... as much!"</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "Impossible!"</div><div><i>(barrage of enchanting David Backes pictures, including but not limited to...)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_6XRFeM4aT4/Tr_74vCVarI/AAAAAAAAAmc/JMp2zbZp_wk/s1600/IMG_1336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_6XRFeM4aT4/Tr_74vCVarI/AAAAAAAAAmc/JMp2zbZp_wk/s1600/IMG_1336.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-77z96_h4Cjs/Tr_742ItTtI/AAAAAAAAAmk/EZaYbzT-0NY/s1600/IMG_1337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-77z96_h4Cjs/Tr_742ItTtI/AAAAAAAAAmk/EZaYbzT-0NY/s1600/IMG_1337.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K2Hhs4z3eOc/Tr_75fDME7I/AAAAAAAAAms/5EBWdgYrkpY/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K2Hhs4z3eOc/Tr_75fDME7I/AAAAAAAAAms/5EBWdgYrkpY/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_YnvLKKcag/Tr_75nXFCyI/AAAAAAAAAm0/mpPugIqfMYo/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_YnvLKKcag/Tr_75nXFCyI/AAAAAAAAAm0/mpPugIqfMYo/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "What was that, Jess? A picture of David Backes from high school? BAM!"</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JHuirKw8tw/Tr_8LC8FefI/AAAAAAAAAm8/24mbmEPjSm0/s1600/IMG_1332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JHuirKw8tw/Tr_8LC8FefI/AAAAAAAAAm8/24mbmEPjSm0/s1600/IMG_1332.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "You tartlette!!!!! That is dirty! Why don't you just steal the puck after each game too?! Well, Timothy Oshie will have <a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/images.jpg">another mugshot</a> when he is arrested on Sunday... for kicking your ass!!!!"</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "At least I'll have this attractive gentleman to console me like a lost puppy!"</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vqp6EamY9YA/Tr_83mM_OJI/AAAAAAAAAnE/lv-WmqZVOKg/s1600/IMG_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vqp6EamY9YA/Tr_83mM_OJI/AAAAAAAAAnE/lv-WmqZVOKg/s1600/IMG_1333.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6YHJMoI-xTE/Tr_831P_LeI/AAAAAAAAAnM/IHUhckC5usw/s1600/IMG_1334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6YHJMoI-xTE/Tr_831P_LeI/AAAAAAAAAnM/IHUhckC5usw/s1600/IMG_1334.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bONRYPfjMJw/Tr_84Y5hpUI/AAAAAAAAAnU/Itr7lz3Vvuw/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bONRYPfjMJw/Tr_84Y5hpUI/AAAAAAAAAnU/Itr7lz3Vvuw/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "And you'll be too busy cleaning up after<a href="http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/2008/06/oh-yeah-they-almost-forgot-charges.html"> your un-housebroken team</a>! David's Dogs are better trained than TJ Oshie! :)"</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "LMAO, I have no rebuttal for that."</div><div><i>(Five minutes later)</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "GOLDILOCKS IS GOING TO BLIND YO WHOLE TEAM."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KbceM60u-u0/Tr_9fX-wOXI/AAAAAAAAAnc/HkaaYtT84xE/s1600/IMG_1326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KbceM60u-u0/Tr_9fX-wOXI/AAAAAAAAAnc/HkaaYtT84xE/s320/IMG_1326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Sidenote: TJ Oshie looks like Ponyboy after arriving in Windrixville!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Hey blondie! Rise and shine!" -Dallas Winston</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Pony... what happened to your tough hair?" -Sodapop Curtis)</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "Your team is going to CHOKE on David Backes' draft day 'fro!"&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRYBjF-YwZ4/Tr_9vxz_TNI/AAAAAAAAAnk/ltcwpVqvuHw/s1600/IMG_1340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRYBjF-YwZ4/Tr_9vxz_TNI/AAAAAAAAAnk/ltcwpVqvuHw/s1600/IMG_1340.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy2gh8WQt_0/Tr_9wIlai1I/AAAAAAAAAns/hvnXsC5Qzi8/s1600/IMG_1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy2gh8WQt_0/Tr_9wIlai1I/AAAAAAAAAns/hvnXsC5Qzi8/s320/IMG_1341.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "ZOMG, how did I not realize that the 'fro was around during draft day?! Kelly, how could you let him show up like that?!"</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "I also did not realize that the fro was from 2003 until I was looking for pics!"</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "Are we sure that he too has not been arrested? Like Timothy Oshie, that's a dramatic hair transformation!" <i>(Sidenote: Soph and I are convinced that TJ Oshie is a criminal mastermind because he often changes his hair dramatically, just like Johnny and Pony must do to avoid being linked to Bob's murder in </i>The Outsiders<i>!!! "It was self-defense, you just said! Pony and Cherry could testify to that!" Okay, I'm sorry, but I LOVE </i>The Outsiders<i> book and movie.)</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "Also, this is not the face of a man who takes Slightly Sucky seriously!"</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hUkUaUBrwaY/TsACdK-RBlI/AAAAAAAAAn0/CuGHlfRDPFA/s1600/IMG_1278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hUkUaUBrwaY/TsACdK-RBlI/AAAAAAAAAn0/CuGHlfRDPFA/s320/IMG_1278.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Sidenote: This picture is ah-mazing, and if you make it the lock screen on your phone, it is truly the gift that keeps on giving.)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "DAVID BACKES IS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT SLIGHTLY SUCKY!"</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v3EYDw4jqsw/TsAEDaGb5tI/AAAAAAAAAn8/2hfXxCwZidA/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v3EYDw4jqsw/TsAEDaGb5tI/AAAAAAAAAn8/2hfXxCwZidA/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "HE BLEEDS FOR THIS TEAM!"<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SP4tvSS1uk/TsAEGtbdVhI/AAAAAAAAAoE/CjV51GAn1pk/s1600/IMG_1343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SP4tvSS1uk/TsAEGtbdVhI/AAAAAAAAAoE/CjV51GAn1pk/s1600/IMG_1343.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "Suuuure..."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5n2DXReFt0/TsAEYSpnmTI/AAAAAAAAAoM/xG2av_62BW8/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5n2DXReFt0/TsAEYSpnmTI/AAAAAAAAAoM/xG2av_62BW8/s320/IMG_1272.JPG" width="218" /></a></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "HE WILL SMASH YOU!!!!"<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMsY7W7q_yU/TsAEdt0r8sI/AAAAAAAAAoU/rKJfiaXIoZY/s1600/IMG_1344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMsY7W7q_yU/TsAEdt0r8sI/AAAAAAAAAoU/rKJfiaXIoZY/s1600/IMG_1344.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "THIS GUY??? Yeah, ok. He's gonna get me a blankie and tuck me in. And then we'll snuggle!"</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uUakce2ecw0/TsAE7KQWR1I/AAAAAAAAAoc/4JdErmcuWck/s1600/IMG_1280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uUakce2ecw0/TsAE7KQWR1I/AAAAAAAAAoc/4JdErmcuWck/s320/IMG_1280.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>David and Kelly Backes. Homegirl's a dime.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "WHAT ABOUT KELLY?!?! SHE'S A NICE GIRL!!!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "WE ARE ALL GETTING TEA TOGETHER, me and the Backes fam. I want to say hi in person 'cause she is a nice girl! Oh and while we're having tea and A CASE OF TASTYKAKES, my team will be kicking your ass!" <i>(Sidenote: Soph loooves Tastykakes. I think she would move back to Philly to be closer to Tastykakes, not me!)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "Tea in bed??? Plus, they have 5 dogs, there's no room for you! And David Backes doesn't even know what Tastykakes are!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "Snuggling and the tea party are two separate bonding experiences that we shall embark on while Timothy Oshie and the rest of my team dismantle Slightly Sucky! HE WILL LEARN WHAT TASTYKAKES ARE. And I will bring pup cakes for the dogs! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEEou0yXPCo">NOTHING GOES BETTER WITH PERFECTION THAN A TASTYKAKE!!"</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span>: "The Backeses are my boos and you will do no such bonding with them! Bond with Candy Corn Head!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hwgsbnhv_H8/TsAHHPMQkMI/AAAAAAAAAok/uPoyO4E_NZ8/s1600/frolovCorrect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hwgsbnhv_H8/TsAHHPMQkMI/AAAAAAAAAok/uPoyO4E_NZ8/s320/frolovCorrect.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So freakishly accurate. Thanks, <a href="http://battleofcalifornia.blogspot.com/2008/03/frolov-for-lady-byng.html">Battle of California</a>!</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">Me</span>: "Well, it IS his big season!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The trash-texting did continue, but I think you get the idea!</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-83577845896870621682011-11-06T20:00:00.001-05:002011-11-06T20:01:19.058-05:00Am I a hipster hockey fan?!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's start with the definition of a hipster, shall we? I often turn to Urban Dictionary at times like this. (It also came in handy when I was composing a rap mix for some friends and needed to define "clip toss" and "stacks on deck." Those are totes getting worked into my Master's thesis btw. "And then Quentin Compson and Dalton Ames get into a clip toss, and Quentin passes out...") ANYWAYS! From Urban Dictionary:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: purple;">"Aged&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=indie" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">indie</a>&nbsp;kids, Hipsters still maintain the air of&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=snobbery" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">snobbery</a>, still shop at<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=salvation%20army" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">salvation army</a>, and still have a completely astonishing array of knowledge when it comes to&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=obscure%20music" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">obscure music</a>,&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pop-culture%20non-sequiturs" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">pop-culture non-sequiturs</a>, and&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=political%20sneers" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">political sneers</a>. Absolutely a blast to be friends with, hell to be enemies of, hipsters are the most&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bi-polar" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">bi-polar</a>&nbsp;of all the&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=stereotypes" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">stereotypes</a>&nbsp;when it comes to how they treat you. Can be recognized by books like "The&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Clockwork%20Orange" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">Clockwork Orange</a>", "<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Everything%20is%20Illuminated" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">Everything is Illuminated</a>", or&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=obscure" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">obscure</a>&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=philosophy" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">philosophy</a>&nbsp;books, by authors akin to&nbsp;<a class="urbantip" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Dostoevsky" style="font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">Dostoevsky</a>."</span></i></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wouldn't describe myself as being especially indie... I've never read <i>Everything Is Illuminated</i> or <i>Clockwork Orange</i>, I don't like philosophy, and while I have been described as a "human jukebox," I don't know any songs by Arcade Fire or Neutral Milk Hotel (despite my recent wedding date's best efforts to educate me). But I do, however, love vintage jewelry/consignment store shopping, have a propensity to wear pearls/flannel/skinny jeans, and definitely have that hipster-y "Mainstream? Gross!" flair in my hockey fandom. I've said for years that, if I were a Pens or Caps fan, I would not be a Crosby or Ovechkin girl. (Let's be serious: I would be a Brooks Laich kinda girl, and that was even BEFORE he had his face rearranged in two separate high-sticking incidents versus the Flyers last month and barely missed a shift. *swoon*) Case and point: Because the Pens were in San Jose last week, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span> saw a guy at the train station with a Pens t-shirt and jersey, and we both could appreciate that he was rocking Dupuis/Engelland, not Crosby/Malkin. Hats and hipster glasses off to you, sir!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So how does this impact teams we actually like? Well, if you've read this blog ever before, you know that we've loved <b>Claude Giroux </b>since his second NHL game. We've even <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/12/hey-jess-what-did-you-do-this-week_16.html">met him</a> several times, and Soph <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2009/04/our-last-game.html">got his jersey</a> back when it had to be specially made at a kiosk in the Wachovia Center. The fact that Giroux's off to such a great start this season should have us doing cartwheels, yes? Ehhhh... We're thrilled he's doing so well, but now he's become the go-to guy. ("Maybe you shoulda got a go-to girl, Jack!" A <i>Cutting Edge</i> reference in the last two posts?! WHOA NOW.) Without Carter and Richards merch to take up every rack at Fan Gear, Giroux has become THE guy for jerseys, t-shirts, signs, and other outpourings of love. &nbsp;Problematic for us hipster gals!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When Soph and I used to play NHL '08 in our college dorm room, I would always try to make stay-at-home defensemen, like Pickles and Kyle McLaren, score goals. Other guys need a moment in the spotlight too, ya know? And that's kind of how we feel about Giroux. Soph and I still like him, of course, but we get more excited over other players these days, like <b>Braydon Coburn</b> (he's been so pissy lately, roughing up guys left and right! I love it!) and <b>Blair Betts</b> (...mmmkay, that's probs just me, but Betts is defensively responsible and overshadowed by everyone, including Nodl, even when he's healthy!). It usually takes me awhile to warm up to new players, but all of these rookies have been really enjoyable to watch too. Mr. Two-Goals-Last-Night <b>Sean Couturier</b> looks realer than Real Deal Holyfield, <b>Matt Read</b> came totally out of left field (or Bemidji State), and <b>Jake Voracek</b> is like Giroux's less heralded, equally long-haired doppelganger. (I love that he had a goal against Columbus. "Up yours, team that traded me!")&nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Popularity, it's such a conundrum. I hope G continues to do well, but I can't help but love a random underdog. Whatever will I do?!&nbsp;</span>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-85448295849186279392011-10-30T19:49:00.002-04:002011-10-31T21:30:24.128-04:00Just a small town girl living in a lonely world... She took the midnight train going anywhere?<div>Well, maybe not anywhere... let's not get crazy! But I <i>do</i>&nbsp;want to go on a hockey road trip. I've always kind of wanted to... after all, I've loved hockey for eleven years and have only been to three arenas! My travel fever may also be motivated by those two weeks in August that I spent in seven states. Annnnd the fact that I miss <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soph</span> lots! So what would be cooler than going to see other NHL teams that we like... IN THEIR HOME ARENAS?!?! I don't know that this idea will actually get off the ground (buh dum ching), but if it does, here are some potential destinations:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHgMrLCXSic/TqnghJlQtgI/AAAAAAAAAmE/xAGR1FaBJOc/s1600/tumblr_liommqVeYu1qdszoho1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHgMrLCXSic/TqnghJlQtgI/AAAAAAAAAmE/xAGR1FaBJOc/s320/tumblr_liommqVeYu1qdszoho1_400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Taken from the fantastic <a href="http://fuckyeahdavidbackes.tumblr.com/">Fuck Yeah David Backes</a> tumblr page!&nbsp;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(I still don't get tumblr, but I do enjoy the amount of awesome pics/photoshops I'm finding!)</span></i></div><br />-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">St. Louis:</span> Soph and I are head over heels for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">David Backes.</span> He has been a stalwart member of Slightly Sucky (even posting <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2009-04-02-blues-red-wings_N.htm">a four goal game</a> to catapult Soph to her first championship!) and was a key part of the silver medal-winning US Olympic team <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/02/they-tried-to-make-me-go-to-olympics.html">that</a> <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/02/this-is-your-time.html">I</a> <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/03/next-call-is-going-to-be-from-police.html">looooved</a>. He is somehow simultaneously BA and adorbs: he would kick your ass, take your name (the logical next step), and then start an animal shelter in your honor. Seriously, the man rescues puppies, is married to his kindergarten sweetheart (the assuredly lovely Kelly... she IS a nice girl, dammit!!) and did we mention <a href="http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=432903">saved a pregnant dog AND HER TWELVE PUPPIES</a>?!?! I think we've found a new perfect man. In addition to Backes, the Blues also boast twelve-year-old-looking&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">T.J. Oshie</span> (Koshie B'Goshie). He's a <a href="http://video.blues.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=0&amp;id=50546">great post-appendix-removal-video-narrator</a>&nbsp;and apparently majored in bad-assery (<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/other/2008-01-03-hockey-oshie-suspended_N.htm">or perhaps dumbassery?</a>) in college. And finally there's&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Chris Stewart</span>, one of my most fortuitous late season FHL pick-ups. (I like boys who make me look like a genius!)<br /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ExVwPBSvi4/TqntpZrvhrI/AAAAAAAAAmU/WeyqJc0FBeg/s1600/Rosie+Posie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ExVwPBSvi4/TqntpZrvhrI/AAAAAAAAAmU/WeyqJc0FBeg/s320/Rosie+Posie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Thanks Rosie!</i></span></div><br /></div><div>-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Carolina</span>: If you've ever seen <a href="http://video.hurricanes.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=0&amp;id=63923">Ask the Canes</a>, then you know that the Hurricanes are a hilarious lot. And as a team, they're (generally) underratedly good. They have our <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Staal</span> of choice (though I sometimes can't tell E and J apart, womp womp). There's also <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Cam Ward.</span>&nbsp;Our Wardo love can be summed up by his Wham!-esque&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuO_lTJcheI">post-Stanley Cup win spandex-clad dance.</a> (Literally, for the win) And of course, he backstopped Slightly Sucky to two championships. And how can we forget about&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Chad Larose</span>, with his wacky accent and crazy eyes? (Ryan Braun is his baseball doppelganger, FYI.) Most importantly, though, <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/10/confessions.html">he gave Soph a puck at warm-up</a> last year, which is pretty much the coolest thing everrrrr.<br /><i>Editor's Note</i>: As Soph pointed out, I initially neglected to include our favorite former finger painter (FINGER PAINTIN'?!?! Errr, figure skating) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Jeff Skinner</span>! We saw him get drafted so obviously we heart him.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zWErrsJ5lDE/Tqnl51KkuaI/AAAAAAAAAmM/-eqZZ7iO9gE/s1600/HPIM0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zWErrsJ5lDE/Tqnl51KkuaI/AAAAAAAAAmM/-eqZZ7iO9gE/s320/HPIM0202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I took this beautiful picture; shocking, I know</i></span></div><br />-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Tampa</span>:&nbsp;They were my team on the side back in the day, and while I don't follow them avidly anymore, their&nbsp;success always warms my heart. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Marty St-Louis</span> is, overall, one of my fave NHL players. (Undrafted? Oft-injured? Too small? HART TROPHY BITCHES!!!) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Vinny Lecavalier</span> is always entertaining... as is the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiknRjs9DE4">Vinny-Marty bromance</a>. And I have a strange coach-crush on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Guy Boucher</span>. (What is up with that totally bad-ass scar he's rocking?! Why is it such a big secret? Will we one day see <i>The Guy Boucher Story</i> on Lifetime?!)<br /><br />Where in the world will we end up?! Just call us Carmen Sandiego!</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-61224576028746251722011-07-24T22:29:00.002-04:002011-07-24T22:57:25.010-04:00Christmas in July: 2011 Carnival Novel<i>Editor's Note: This post is EXTREMELY overdue. Like, six months overdue. If I'd checked the forthcoming novel out of the library, I'd have racked up quite a fine by now. Soph and I tag-teamed this post while she was still in PA, and yet it's been sitting in the drafts folder ever since. Sadly, a lot of these guys aren't on the team anymore, so this is quite a walk down memory lane.</i> <div><br /></div><div>Yes, even though I've gone into hiding over the past month, I did in fact go to last week's Flyers' Wives Carnival, and even had a very special accomplice... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">SOPH</span>!!! We planned terribly and therefore missed our chance to meet Giroux and Carter (who were totally sold out), but we still had a fabulous time!<div><br /></div><div><b>Kimmo Timonen Photo Booth</b></div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7OAxjVScTDQ/TizXO_J5TxI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/xZWmNls4KBU/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7OAxjVScTDQ/TizXO_J5TxI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/xZWmNls4KBU/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633113886404726546" /></a><br /></div><div>Oh Timonen, he's like everyone's adorably accented, doting dad. Also, he is one half of our favorite Flyers couple! (You might recall that <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2008/02/so-many-flyers-so-little-time.html">we totes bonded with Mrs. Timonen</a> when she sold Soph the greatest mystery bag ever at the '08 Carnival.) ANYWAY, we knew making Timonen our first stop was a good choice. He shook our hands and asked us if we were enjoying the day. Well, OF COURSE! So what if we'd only been there five minutes, minor detail...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Braydon Coburn Dunk Tank</b></div><div><br /></div><div>So we didn't actually <i>dunk </i>Braydon Coburn, we just swooned over him from the sidelines. Watching this man at the dunk tank would have melted even Lou Lamoriello's heart. If I were a famous hockey player making millions of dollars, the last place I would want to be on my birthday (yes, it was Brayds' b-day!) would be in the dunk tank amid screaming children. But there Coburn was, sassing kids and totally playing along like he was having the time of his life. Not to mention, showing off his gams and <a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/DSC_0016.jpg">"awesome arms"</a> (thank you <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">Kristin</span>!) for passer-by. Hockey players, truly the most down-to-earth athletes around.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mystery Bags</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So Soph and I each bought mystery bags, and we both got two cups with the Flyers logo. A complete set! No need to put that on the ol' wedding registry one day. Considering that other people got things like jerseys and autographed pictures, a pretty big FAIL. Unless you enjoy </span><a href="http://youtu.be/skCV2L0c6K0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">this video</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. (Which did provide the only silver lining: "Drinkin' outta cups...")</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Braydon Coburn Photo Booth</b></div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iCSx_ZsXLg/TizXCxzYzJI/AAAAAAAAAlI/DN0bo8rQcc4/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iCSx_ZsXLg/TizXCxzYzJI/AAAAAAAAAlI/DN0bo8rQcc4/s320/DSC_0045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633113676662230162" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I had taken a pic with Brayds </span><a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/01/carnival-diary-without-soph-were.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">last year</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and didn't even frighten him with my ice hands, so I knew he would be enjoyable to meet. After swooning over him at the dunk tank, Soph was quite on board. Even though his line wasn't terribly long, it seemed to be taking forever to meet this man. And then we figured out why: Brayds is Chatty McBox and had a legit conversation with EVERY SINGLE PERSON who came up to meet him. Be still my heart. He even lifted up a smallish child so he could stand on a chair and be in the same zip code, height-wise. ANYWAY, Soph kept teasing me that she was going to make me go alone, so once it was our turn, I shoved Soph into the little booth and followed nervously behind. As we threw off our bags, Brayds was like, "Hey, no purses allowed!" and then proceeded to shake our hands and ask for our names. And then the photo session commenced...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">BC</span> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(to Soph)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Hey, who's that on your jersey? Ah, Giroux. He's a nice guy." </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(we gather together for the picture)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> "Well, I'm tall. So we're gonna have to get close, or I can put you on the chair..."</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(We opt to snuggle up to Brayds, as much as we could considering we're nervous spazzes, and the picture is taken.)</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">BC</span>: "So what else are you guys going to do today?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Soph</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "We're going to your autograph booth!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">BC</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Oh, nice! I'll see you there!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Me</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(in what I hope was a charmingly shy fashion</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">): "You're my favorite player so..."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">BC</span>: "Oh, wow! Thank you!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Me</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "And I think today's your birthday...?" </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Sidenote: I totes knew it was his b-day, but I felt like a creeper. Brayds' b-day is the day before my half b-day, so it's easy to remember. If you're a summer baby and had to bring in munchkins for the class on a random winter day, you surely understand the half birthday's importance!)</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Soph</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Yeah! Happy birthday!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">BC</span>: "Thanks! Twenty-six today. I'm on the wrong side of twenty!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Me</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "And they stuck you in the dunk tank! On your birthday! That's not very nice!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">BC</span>: "Yeah, I'm still trying to get the water out of my ears! All right guys, have a nice day!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And therin lies the longest conversation we've ever had in the history of the Carnival! What a wonderful man. If we were cartoon characters, little hearts would have been revolving around our heads after every encounter with him!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Jeff Carter Autograph Booth </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(say what now?!?!)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SegQzTvjFO4/TizWNLsXB4I/AAAAAAAAAlA/exW0iy9Je4Q/s1600/DSC_0062.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SegQzTvjFO4/TizWNLsXB4I/AAAAAAAAAlA/exW0iy9Je4Q/s320/DSC_0062.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633112755899139970" /></a><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ladies is pimps too, go on, brush yo shoulders off</span></i></span></div></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After swooning over Coburn, we needed sustenance, so we fled to the significantly less crowded mezzanine... where we overheard a worker telling people that they could get get two Carter autographs for $15. Quoi?!?! Considering that Jeff isn't exactly Chatty McBox, he must have whipped through the line of advanced ticket buyers, which left time for other people to buy last minute tickets and meet him at the end of his session. Soph, a Carter Grl, jumped at this chance. And so we found ourselves unexpectedly thrown into the Carter line!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">... I don't know what else to say about this encounter. I creeperishly took pictures while Soph actually met vanilla bean himself. Apparently, he said nothing and made eyes at the gaggle of girls standing next to me. Who's surprised? NO ONE. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jody Shelley Autograph Booth</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So after wandering around and watching various players make fools of themselves at the Kinect/Wii booths, we wound up in Shelley's line. Since he's a former Shark, we go way back with Percy Bysshe. (Ha! A little English major humor for you there.) Shelley seemed very nice, but he wasn't particularly chatty. I don't know, perhaps the</span><a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/DSC_0068.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></a><i><a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/DSC_0068.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> two jagged lines of stitches in his face</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had something to do with it. Eeek! In the immortal words of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pops</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, "That's a rough way to make a buck."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Braydon Coburn Autograph Booth</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">True to our (creeperish?) word, we met Brayds yet again before the day was through. Now, even though I'm quite shy and skittish (basically Bulls-eye from </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Toy Story</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> personified), I have met quite a few hockey players in my day. And usually, even if you ask a player to sign something "to" you, the standard message is "All the best!" "Best wishes!" etc. But Brayds is a 110% kind of guy. So Soph got, "You're the best!" and I got, </span><a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/IMG_0025.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"It was so nice meeting you!"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> We nearly peed our pants. And! He remembered us, as he asked how our picture turned out! Brayds is certainly like the nicest guy ever, but I'm willing to bet that being a bespectacled redhead with a sparkly headband made me stand out just a little. Whatevs! The 2011 Carnival will forever be known as the day we fell in love (or in my case, more in love, since I do love me a gangly, unsung d-man) with Braydon Coburn. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Darroll Powe Photograph Booth</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After our final run-in with Brayds, we actually attempted to get a picture with "Billy Leino." (Thank you, Joff Lupul and your hilarious twitter account!) Solely because we thought it'd be hilarious. But we were shocked to hear that he had to leave early due to some sort of emergency! Eeep! As his [fantasy league] GM shouldn't I know about this?! All kidding aside, we hoped he was okay! Then we decided to meet Powe-wow instead. He was nice but not too chatty, likely because he had heat exhaustion from the lamps in his photo-booth! Soph was only there for a minute and nearly suffered a third degree ass burn! And considering all these lamps,<a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/Powecarnival.jpg"> our picture with Powe turned out the darkest.</a> Weird.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>JVR Photograph Booth</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, we still had a bit of time to kill, so we opted to meet the boy who I was supposed to love this year. Yeahh, that hasn't exactly happened. JVR, I'll love you next year... for reals! In any case, he looks ridiculously young in person. (Sidenote: He was born in '89?! Oh dear god!) And he seemed rather sheepishly uncomfortable even with having two nerds like Soph and me pose with him. He said hi and giggled a bit. The REAL conversation happened afterward when an older man working the Carnival gave us our picture:</div><div><br /></div><div>"Did he talk to you? He's kind of shy. Did he put his arm around you?" (examines <a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/JVRcarnival.jpg">our picture</a> upon pulling it out of the printer) "OH HE DID! HE DID!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Ohhh man. Poor JVR. Just wait 'til I like him!... next year. We'll be drinking Yoo-Hoo with twirly straws together in 2012, woot woot.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.8333px;"> </span></div></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-85968132616076934872011-06-25T23:07:00.004-04:002011-06-25T23:22:42.692-04:00"I gave her my heart and she gave me [a one-way ticket to LA]..."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><i>"You have to understand that her family is being ripped apart. Just like you and her were ripped apart. Just like Joe and I were ripped apart." -Corey</i>, Say Anything</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; ">Well, I guess this is a mandatory post if ever I've written one. Homer trades Richards and Carter TO DIFFERENT TEAMS within one hour. Meanwhile, that dynamic duo of Salt and Pepa (aka Doughty and Simmonds, per The Hockey News) also meets a tragic demise. (As I told <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Soph</span>, "They are no longer here, and no longer in effect!" No word on how DJ Spinderella, aka Anze Kopitar, is coping with this.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; ">In the words of Soph, "relationships have been torn asunder" this week. This set of trades certainly warrants a bromance moment of silence.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; ">...........</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Levity aside, am I shocked by these trades? Yes. Am I disappointed? No. Carter and Richards are good players, but I'm not in love with them and they weren't the best players on the team. This smacks of a culture change, and now the team is Pronger's. Should make for an interesting season...</span></span></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-66250073535844573472011-06-11T23:15:00.005-04:002011-06-11T23:35:08.962-04:00My maiden voyage to Tim Hortons!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eHj7y3MUY5E/TfQzhEKDF0I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/BW-FAG0ehE4/s1600/IMG_0560.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eHj7y3MUY5E/TfQzhEKDF0I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/BW-FAG0ehE4/s320/IMG_0560.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617171278382438210" /></a><br />The regional advertisements that appear in hockey games always seem to get embedded in my head and provoke an inordinate curiosity/excitement. Hence why I pretty much flipped my lid upon spotting THE intersection of coffee/donuts/hockey/Canadian lore in downtown Manhattan this afternoon: TIM HORTONS. Despite being to Canada once in my life (when I was a wee lass of fifteen), I've never set foot in this fine establishment. WELL! Today was the day that was all going to change.<div><br /></div><div><i>Scene: Counter at some Manhattan pizza place</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;">Timmi</span> <i>(my friend and accomplice to NYC)</i>: "What are you so excited about?"</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span> <i>(beaming giddily)</i>: "...There's some place around the corner that I want to go to."</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;">Timmi</span>: "...Okay?"</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span>: "It's Tim Hortons!"</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;">Timmi</span>: <i>*blank stare*</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span>: "Tim Hortons! The preeminent coffee chain in Canada!"</div><div><br /></div><div>When Timmi stopped laughing, she did indulge me, accompanying me into the photo-booth-sized shop and taking pictures of the entire transaction. (For her troubles, she earned the nickname of "Timbits." Lucky gal.) I was too flustered to actually order Timbits (what quantity do they come in?!), so instead I got my go-to donut: glazed chocolate cake, which was quite delicious after a long day at the Renegade Craft Fair! (All together now: "Oh mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the laaaaw...") </div><div><br /></div><div>Ninety-five cents well spent.</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-44841435274028103472011-06-08T20:40:00.007-04:002011-06-08T22:00:21.084-04:00Wherein hockey nerdiness and video game nerdiness collide!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJJiOgwhjJY/TfAfQuPpsjI/AAAAAAAAAkI/VI1n172mDHw/s1600/1292390352507-1167709108.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 140px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJJiOgwhjJY/TfAfQuPpsjI/AAAAAAAAAkI/VI1n172mDHw/s320/1292390352507-1167709108.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616023107483054642" /></a><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-size:13.3333px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ryan Kesler, fancy meeting you here</span>!</i></span></div></i><div><br />When two teams we don't follow make it to the Finals, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Soph</span> and I generally cheer for the team that didn't eliminate the Flyers. So in 2008 and 2009, we found solace aboard the Red Wings' bandwagon. (It doesn't hurt that they also have Foxy Lady Byng cornerstone Pavel Datsyuk, along with perfect human Nick Lidstrom. Sidenote: When is he going to be canonized? Mini Swedish flags can be left in children's shoes on St. Nicklas' Day!) <div><br /></div><div>We'll have a moment of silence for the AWESOMENESS that was the 2010 playoffs.</div><div><br /></div><div>And this year, our allegiance would logically seem to be with Vancouver. But Soph raised this interesting point last night:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Soph</span>: "So which German are we cheering for?"</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span>: "OH! I didn't even think of that!"</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Dennis Seidenberg</span> and I go way back.... to 2004 when I found him amiable at the Carnival AND he was sidelined with a broken leg at the time. (Thanks to Marcus Ragnarsson falling on him at practice. #I'llTumbleForYa) That's like an elixir for his magic points, so to speak. But let's not discount <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Christian Ehrhoff</span>, who was one of Soph's first fave Sharks. We also met him (hilariously) <a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/A%20Taste%20of%20Sharkie%20Love/Christiancarryingaweddingpresent.jpg">while he was toting an enormous wedding present</a>, so that's basically a phoenix down for him. The candidates were quite evenly matched, until I mistakenly thought that Seidenberg had won the Cup with Carolina, which gave him an un-deserved edge. Whoops! </div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see, this Finals series has boiled down to cheering for individual players for a bizarre amalgam of reasons. For the Bruins, there's Seidenberg (obvs) but also <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Tyler Seguin</span> (largely because Soph and I are compelled to yell, "We saw you get drafted!!!!!111!!" whenever he's mentioned).</div><div><br /></div><div>Besides Christian (duh), the Canucks seem to have quite an advantage. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Mason Raymond</span> was a beloved member of Foxy Lady Byng 1.0 (aka "Team Good Egg") and looks like he's twelve years old (an endearing trait, since Soph and I are carded all. the. time.). <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF00;">Pops</span> always calls him <i>Nathan</i> Raymond though. FAIL. There's also <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Kevin Bieksa</span>, who, at some point (by someone other than us) was dubbed "Kevin Be-sex-a," which will never not be funny. We like <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Jannik Hansen</span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Alex Edler</span>, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Alex Burrows</span> (ehhh...sort of) all because of t<a href="http://canucks.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=6&amp;id=34170">his stellar performance</a> of the "show me the money" scene from <i>Jerry Maguire</i> at Dice and Ice. And finally, there's the magnetic appeal of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Ryan Kesler's</span> bedhead. I don't <i>want</i> to like him, but I think I'm still vaguely enamored with him from the Olympics. Keslove is not in full bloom or anything, but <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Ryan-Kesler-explains-his-interview-bombing-a-k-?urn=nhl-wp326">Keslurking</a> is helping his cause.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then there's <a href="http://creampuffsinvenice.ca/2010/10/13/hockey-an-event-the-round-up/">Canuckcakes</a>, ftw.</div><div><br /></div><div>So in this match-up, I guess we're going to deem the Canucks Ness and co. (Ness rocked the bed head himself when the meteor hit Onett!), while the Bruins are Pokey and his band of troublemakers. Seidenberg is like Mr. Saturn: he pops ups pleasantly when you least expect it.</div><div><br /></div><div>(If anyone can name the above video game with having to drop by the Hint Booth, you'll have my undying adoration!)</div></div></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-22785525963707323572011-06-06T21:16:00.004-04:002011-06-06T21:57:16.277-04:00Bromancing the stoneI'm starting to get better at this whole signing thing. Sure, I'm still an awkward mess 90% of the time but TODAY! Today marked a real breakthrough. I decided, on a day's notice, to go meet <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Lappy</span> at my local card store. (Oh yes, and I am now the mayor of this fine establishment. What up, gangstaaa?)<div><br /></div><div>How can you say no to Lappy? I mean, he just seems like such a great guy, such a team player, someone with such heart, and someone who shouldn't be plagued by lingering concussion symptoms. But alas, that's life in NHL. (And also why I couldn't make it in the NHL. That, and the line changes. Damn you, tiny legs!) You might recall that this is my third signing this year (cough <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/09/shady-day.html">Shady</a> and <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/12/hey-jess-what-did-you-do-this-week_16.html">Giroux</a> cough), and this time around, I was completely calm. AND I WILLINGLY TOOK A PICTURE WITH THE MAN. Whaaaaaat?!?!<div><br /></div><div>But I'm getting ahead of myself.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF00;">Pops</span> (my wingman) and I strolled up to Lappy, and I was completely dumbfounded when the man sitting beside Lappy (his bodyguard?) whipped out an eraser and started ERASING MY CARD! In all my awkward meet-and-greet days, I've never seen such a practice! And this was a pretty snazzy Black Diamond card too! I guess Lappy could read the look of horror on my face...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">IL</span>: "Oh yeah, this guy's a pro. That's how you do it." <i>(Johnny Erasers proceeds to toss the proverbial bouquet amid his overzealous erasing.)</i> "Um, that's NOT what you do."</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span>: *nervous laughter* <i>(In retrospect, though, this practice makes total sense, since Black Diamond cards are really, really ridiculously glossy.)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">IL</span> (<i>handing back the signed card and standing up)</i>: "Here you go! Picture?"</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span>: "Um, okay!" <i>(Sidenote: Who is this girl?!)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF00;">Pops</span> takes the <a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/100_6820.jpg">picture</a>)</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span>: "Thank you so much! We miss you! How are you feeling?"</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">IL</span> (<i>still standing beside me, chatting it up as if we're old chums</i>): "I'm okay. Still having trouble with my eye."</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span>: "That's such a shame. Hope you're feeling better soon!"</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">IL</span>: "Yeah, I'm working on it. One day at a time!"</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span>: "Okay, well, good luck! Have a good summer!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, let's review: that was a shocking articulate performance by yours truly, no? Well then, Pops stepped up to the plate... and neither of us are really sure <i>what</i> he was attempting to splutter:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF00;">Pops</span>: "You're just... you're so good to the team... even without really being on the team... they really miss you..."</div><div><br /></div><div>Basically, Pops was rendered as speechless by Lappy as <a href="http://youtu.be/JSd8CqBEbcY">these men</a> were by the Stanley Cup: "It's... um... ahhhh...." *teary headshake and sigh*</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh Lappy. What a man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man (yes, he is!)!</div></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-49338693979649012572011-04-27T23:55:00.002-04:002011-04-28T00:00:25.843-04:00History = madeBecause when is the first round ever that freakin' awesome?Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-25827649911824532842011-04-16T00:44:00.005-04:002011-04-16T01:25:24.048-04:00It weighs 35 pounds...Except when you're lifting it.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Before we go any further, <a href="http://youtu.be/NYwA9s-hjMs">Cup Raise</a>. Of course. It simply needs to be done.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, hey. Despite my disappearing act over the past few months, we still have a blog! And people still regularly drop in, searching for things like, "Claude Giroux personality shy" (adorbs) and "Jeff Carter Sea Isle" (eek). And it's the most exciting time of the year, so I have to slap together some sort of a post! I LOVE wall-to-wall hockey coverage! Last night consisted of watching the Flyers before quizzo and coming home to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF00;">Pops</span> eating cookies and watching the Sharks-Kings late game. We're living the glamorous life indeed.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the Flyers get Buffalo. This is worrisome cons--</div><div><br /></div><div>OH JESUS! IS THAT VINNY?!?! (Sorry, Pops and I are watching Hockey Central on Versus and they just interviewed a shockingly-shorn Vinny Lecavalier. Also, since we're on the topic of the Bolts, how bad-ass is Marty St-Louis? Double root canal after game one, PPG and an assist in game two. Hold me closer, tiny dancer.)</div><div><br /></div><div>ANYWAY, back to the Flyers. The match-up with Buffalo is worrisome for several reasons. Firstly, as we all know, <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/05/im-not-ready-for-live-handshake-line.html">my true calling in life is worrying</a>. So there's that. Secondly, you need your best players at this time of the year, and it's quite difficult to turn Danny Syvret into a 6'6", puck-stealing beast on such short notice. Not to mention that Pronger is such a vocal leader and settles down the power play considerably. Finally, Buffalo came in on quite a roll, while the Flyers were flat as a pancake through the end of the season. I think the Flyers can certainly take them, they just have to get their shit together. I saw parts of last night's game on mute at a bar so I'm in no way qualified to comment on it, but Buffalo only needed to get a split on the road, so mission accomplished there. I WILL, however, get to see tomorrow's game, and I'm so psyched! Time to bust out the playoff moo-moo!</div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zjdB1u-aCQg/TaknkzhFZaI/AAAAAAAAAjc/AaSJVEJibPk/s1600/100_2809.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zjdB1u-aCQg/TaknkzhFZaI/AAAAAAAAAjc/AaSJVEJibPk/s320/100_2809.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596047525242299810" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>PS- There's a Carnival novel that's been in the works since <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Soph</span> visited, er, over a month ago. I will post it someday, I swear! Though all you really need to know is that the 2011 Carnival = love affair with Braydon Coburn. There's the SparkNotes version for you.</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-38706662864796388462011-01-11T22:48:00.006-05:002011-01-11T23:45:22.726-05:00Can I get an all-star, do ya want more?<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TS0tm_58a9I/AAAAAAAAAik/wrjdmMOzC_A/s1600/soph_giroux.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TS0tm_58a9I/AAAAAAAAAik/wrjdmMOzC_A/s320/soph_giroux.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561151262885178322" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I know that people are all up in arms that Claude Giroux is the Flyers' lone all-star. So I'm not going to talk about that. (Other than to quote <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Soph</span>'s stellar assessment: "Mike Richards isn't used to being turned away at the last minute. He's not like <a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/747340--canadian-cold-shoulder-stings-carter">Jeff</a>.") Let's instead focus on the fact that our beloved Claude Giroux IS the Flyers' lone all-star! Which apparently qualifies him to be a Real Man of Genius as well:<div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Real men of genius…"</span></span></div><div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Reeeeeal men of geeeeenius…"</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Today, we salute you, Mr. Totally Angelic Bad-Ass…"</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Mr.TotallyAngelicBadAss!"</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "By day, you’re at the kids’ table, feasting on grilled cheese and Yoo-Hoo. But by night, your focus shifts from sippy cup to Stanley Cup, and your killer shoot-out moves secure playoff berths."</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Parlez-vous playoffs?!"</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "You only </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">look</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> like a cupcake on skates. Because if you’re roughed up by opponents, you don’t fold up like fondant. You give them one heck of a knuckle sandwich."</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "With buttercream frosting!"</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "You wear that shiny crucifix because you know you’re destined to get your cheeks pinched by grandmas who go to church on Sunday… and Monday… and Tuesday…"</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Holy Day of Obligation!"</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "So we salute you, Mr. Totally Angelic Bad-Ass, because you’re a chameleon on and off the ice. You’ll be carded until you’re 78, but that’s okay, because who doesn’t love to see a first grader score on the power play?"</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Mr.TotallyAngelicBadAss!"</span></span></p><div> <!--EndFragment--> </div></div></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-21989873238575542752010-12-30T03:37:00.005-05:002010-12-30T04:19:12.667-05:00Hockey News-palooza!With end of the semester chaos, I've gotten a little behind in my non-academic reading. Thus, I had quite a chuckle when I saw this headline emblazoned on the November 15th issue of<i> The Hockey News</i>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TRxFgHPaVFI/AAAAAAAAAic/p2zaKJhWa1Q/s1600/100_5930.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TRxFgHPaVFI/AAAAAAAAAic/p2zaKJhWa1Q/s320/100_5930.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556392458270168146" /></a><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-size:15.8333px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Clearly, THN reads Slightly Saucy. Clearly.</span></i></span></div></i><br />Incidentally, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Soph</span> just got her first ever <i>Hockey News</i> in the mail! I've had a subscription since my fifteenth birthday (thank you, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF00;">Pops</span>!), and now Soph is part of the club! She actually ordered it over a month ago and was quite disappointed to hear that it would not be arriving until the new year. Luckily, her first issue showed up Monday, and they really rolled out the red carpet for her, as she even got a non-Crosby/Ovechkin cover! (...Though the current cover boy is Byfuglien, which kind of tempers the excitement a bit. Unless you're The Pronger and intend to use it as a dart board, I guess.) We promptly had a field day, tag-teaming the crossword puzzle, which finally put our random hockey trivia knowledge to good use. ("Team in Sarnia?" "THE STING!!!") Also, they had a little feature about the now visorless Bruno Gervais (aka "<i>mon cher</i>" over on <a href="http://sportsquee.blogspot.com/search?q=gervais">Sportsquee</a>), which prompted me to look him up on Wikipedia. This madness ensued:<br /><br />"Did you know he was drafted in 2003?!?!"<br />"AAAHHHH!!!"<div><br /></div><div>Wowwer'renerds. The 2003 draft was, of course, one of the deepest drafts in the history of awesomeness. All but one of the first-rounders from that year have played in the NHL. In fact, the Flyers currently have FOUR players from said first round (Coburn, Carter, Richards, and Zherdev... not to mention Carle and Carcillo, who were drafted in the second and third rounds respectively). Our former Sharks beloveds, Milan Michalek and Steve Bernier, were also taken in the first round, along with our Staal of choice: E. The later rounds of this impressive draft boasted (in addition to Bruno Gervais) Joe Pavelski, Jaroslav Halak (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">Kristin</span> rejoices!), Soph's fantasy league bf (and resident puppy-saver) David Backes, two current members of Foxy Lady Byng (Tobias Enstrom and Brian Elliott, to go along with '03 first-rounders Ryan Suter and Dustin Brown), Twitter star BizNasty, and yes, current <i>THN </i>cover boy Byfuglien. We've come full circle. Seriously, go google the 2003 NHL Draft, you'll be astounded by all the familiar faces. I can only hope that the same can someday be said for the 2010 Draft because, as it is, when Soph and I hear about any prospects taken this past June (coughJeffSkinnercough), we're compelled to squeal, "We saw you get drafted!" (Sidenote: Jeff Skinner was born in 1992?!?! Oh dear god!)</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-6748393521645089092010-12-24T22:11:00.005-05:002010-12-24T22:52:18.548-05:00Do they know it's Christmas?Or better yet, do <i>I</i> know it's Christmas? Honestly, I've been in a thesis-induced panic and thus kept forgetting about that little holiday looming on the horizon. Thankfully, Christmas Eve Mass (LOVE) and Christmas movies have helped bring me back to reality! (Sidenote: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF00;">Pops</span> is totes turning into the Old Man from <i>A Christmas Stor</i>y, complete with disgruntled old man noises and Christmas tree selection pickiness. If he didn't love our neighbor's cat, he would be yelling, "SONSABITCHES! Meowie!" at our front door. Unfortunately, <i>my</i> Christmas movie doppelganger is likely Mary from the "What if George Bailey had never been born?" section of <i>It's a Wonderful Lif</i>e: "She's... an old maid! She's closing up the library now..." Oh, my glamorous future!)<div><br /></div><div>ANYWAY, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas(time)! If you need some 90s rap for your Christmas celebrations, might I suggest <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKgvg9U3KnM">this video</a>? ...Mainly because a hockey jersey makes a cameo in the tree-trimming! (TLC's "Sleigh Ride" video is probably the last place I would have expected to find a hockey jersey! Clearly, the <a href="http://interchangeableparts.wordpress.com/">-Ookies</a> were wardrobe consultants for this music video. Also, props to <a href="http://waymorethancheesesteak.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a> for inadvertently bringing this to my attention!)</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-46254196791074711432010-12-16T23:22:00.014-05:002010-12-28T12:32:03.192-05:00"Hey Jess, what did you do this week?"<div>"Oh, not much, just wrote over 40 pages of literary analysis and MET CLAUDE GIROUX!!!!!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes indeed. In fact, I went directly from handing in my rather massive Philosophies of Modernism paper to meeting Giroux. Like, I was literally walking down the steps at school when I realized, "Oh, I have to go meet Giroux soon. Ho-hum." (This actually worked in my favor, as I just did not have enough time/functioning brain cells to become as incapacitated with nervousness as I usually do before a player signing.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's back up a bit. As all two of our readers know, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Soph</span> and I have loved Giroux ever since he was a lower-case g:</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TQsGUrko4kI/AAAAAAAAAiI/IFJJtO6UUug/s1600/giroux.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TQsGUrko4kI/AAAAAAAAAiI/IFJJtO6UUug/s320/giroux.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551537918027817538" /></a><br /></div><div>But now he's a big G, he's got the money, hundred dollar bills y'all. (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hiUuL5uTKc">90s rap</a>, truly appropriate for any occasion.) New contract aside, he's second on the Flyers in scoring this year, he's got the sickest shoot-out moves, he can grow a beard by Tuesday, annnnd we love him. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So when we discovered that Giroux was coming to our fave sports card store, I knew I had to go, regardless of finals week AND my tendency to revert to charming "Word Vomit Spaz" mode around anyone remotely famous. Luckily, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF00;">Pops</span> and I actually slipped in shortly after most of the crowd had dissipated. The owner spotted me in the line and gave me a nice nod of recognition... because I'm pretty sure I'm the ONLY girl who ever comes into his store at 2 PM on a Tuesday to go through boxes of hockey cards. In any case, as I inched closer to the table, I was not surprised to find that Giroux was pretty quiet. He always seems rather shy and skittish (my people!), as though the goal horn might frighten him a little. So imagine my surprise when I reached the front of the line and this happened: </span></div><div><br /></div><div>G: "Hey, how are you?"</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span> (jaw drops): "...Oh! Good! I'm good! How are you?"</div><div>G: "I'm good." *hands back my stuff*</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span>: "Can I take a picture of you?" </div><div>G: "Oh, for sure!" *click*</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Me</span> (achieving full-blown exclamation point mode): "Thanks!!! Have a good night!!!!!"</div><div>G: "Yeah, you too."</div><div><br /></div><div>Not surprisingly, a bit of a departure from <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2010/09/shady-day.html">Leights</a>, who pulled off quite a miracle when he persuaded me into taking a picture with him. But still, Giroux was very nice, and I inadvertently got him to talk, so BONUS!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TQsJwPKhAAI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/t5GB4oZRYCY/s1600/100_5845.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TQsJwPKhAAI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/t5GB4oZRYCY/s320/100_5845.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551541689973276674" /></a><br /></div><div>Oh, you'll note in this picture that his crucifix is in hiding. Soph and I love that he wears a very prominent crucifix on the ice, as it seems to fully compliment his image of grilled cheese eating, baby-faced bad ass. In any case, we promptly started debating its absence in this picture. What if he underwent a necklace upgrade, ie perhaps he has a diamond studded "G" to go with that new contract? Or maybe he just lost the ol' cross and needs to make a trip to the St. Jude Shop? Crucifix debate aside, I've now successfully gone to two signings without Soph. What is this world coming to?!?!</div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-51011333910025856572010-11-26T22:15:00.016-05:002010-11-27T01:24:17.864-05:00Pronger's last stand<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFF33;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pops</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and I did not have tickets to today's Black Friday game until approximately 12:14 PM. But we should have known we'd be in luck when we saw this good omen on the streets of Philadelphia:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TPCFvjgm8qI/AAAAAAAAAh4/-fZNl9WUk84/s1600/100_5563.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TPCFvjgm8qI/AAAAAAAAAh4/-fZNl9WUk84/s320/100_5563.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544078193325437602" /></a><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Surely off to deliver the famous "case of Tastykakes"!</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Actually, when we first arrived at the Wells Fargo Center Box Office to plead for last minute tix, we were told there were no pairs left. But Pops and I barely batted an eye. We know by now that stuff just has a weird way of working itself out. Case(es) and point(s): In Disneyland two years ago, a lovely couple approached us with four freebie tickets to give away because they juuuuust happened to spot our quartet in the crowd. And then, two days later, in the height of a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Soph</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">-less depression, I found out that someone (an eventual friend, no less!) had given up their fellowship at the last minute, thereby enabling me to go to grad school. Sure enough, today followed suit. The woman in the box office who intially pooh-poohed us turned around five seconds later and was like, "Wait, I think they're releasing some more tickets..." Moral of the story? I'm totally thankful for the way things just work out so perfectly sometimes. Oh, and you've gotta have </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu3VTngm1F0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">faith-faith-faith-ah</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>ANYWAY, we made it inside just in time to snag some sweet third row seats for warm-ups, although today was the Day of the Photobomb. No matter who I wanted to take a picture of, Blair Betts, Matt Carle, and Scott Hartnell were all up in their grill, like the guys in <i>A Night at the Roxbury</i>! Oy. (Sidenote: Did anyone else see Betts in the locker room during some pre-game montage last week? Homeboy is ripped! I mean, I guess this shouldn't be surprising since he IS a professional athlete and all, but I see him as H.P. Lovecraft's doppelganger, which is slightly problematic.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TPCD-sapR9I/AAAAAAAAAhg/7JMgGn5kFXk/s1600/lovecraft.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 157px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TPCD-sapR9I/AAAAAAAAAhg/7JMgGn5kFXk/s200/lovecraft.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544076254391125970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TPCFMhmsI-I/AAAAAAAAAhw/0LZwB_BdmZ4/s1600/blair%2Bbetts%2Bheadshot.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 170px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TPCFMhmsI-I/AAAAAAAAAhw/0LZwB_BdmZ4/s200/blair%2Bbetts%2Bheadshot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544077591518651362" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Who knows, maybe Lovecraft was secretly up in the gym just working on his fitness...</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Poe's my witness?) </span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Warm-ups today featured some important revelations, namely that Jeff Carter's hair is no longer neon platinum uber-blonde (thank god) and that Claude Giroux is now officially a bad-ass and has forsaken his helmet!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TPCHaO-E0hI/AAAAAAAAAiA/wu5z5OYQxuI/s1600/100_5659.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TPCHaO-E0hI/AAAAAAAAAiA/wu5z5OYQxuI/s320/100_5659.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544080026057888274" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hey G, what up?</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>After warm-ups, we rushed up to our second row seats in 220! (Pops and I LOVE the second row upstairs, so much so that when the woman at the box office announced our seats, my reaction was, "SWEET! Er, I mean, yeah, those sound good...") Pops apparently was sitting next to McGruff the Crime Dog because this gent was silent until there was a penalty call and then: "AHHHH! INTERFERENCE!" "THAT'S BOARDING! BOARDING!!!" Other than those random outbursts, the game was kind of dull. Good chances, third period swoon, a couple of goals, Bob being awesome. But then. THEN there was... "Pronger's last stand" (copyright Pops). We were actually behind the other net, so we had no clue what had happened, or why it was unsportsmanlike conduct (aside from the f-bombs that were flying after the goal was called off). So how did this call go over, you ask?</div></div></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxudSKxDzHN5BfOdK74AmZuZQxd1oHgig0o-tBIzhKxE2weq-4kdfc4GUeKR2q1FUiSRdfw9LJs3matn9wZ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This was the RESIDUAL booing that ramped up during every stoppage.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The fans took it well, clearly.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>I must say, the dramalicious OT/shootout were worth the price of admission. (As were the <a href="http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/sports_breaking/20101126_Pronger_penalty_helps_Calgary_top_Flyers.html">post-game comments </a>apparently!) Actually, I haven't seen an OT game since Soph and I went to a slew of them in '08-09, goodness! Soph is actually the one who instituted the Black Friday game as a tradition, and Pops and I are more than happy to uphold it in her absence!</div></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-72619912714786532132010-11-14T01:40:00.007-05:002010-11-14T03:01:35.091-05:00Holy re-signings, Batman!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TN-VIfHOzGI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/tVBQe-23y1Q/s1600/soph_jeff3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TN-VIfHOzGI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/tVBQe-23y1Q/s320/soph_jeff3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539310039712320610" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Welcome back <strike> Kotter </strike> Carter</i></div></span><div><br />You know that show Best Week Ever? I imagine that must be how <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Soph</span> is feeling now that two of <a href="http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=340429">her</a> <a href="http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=341029">faves</a> have been re-signed in the span of five days! (AND David Backes, her fantasy league beloved, just signed an extension Friday, so that he can continue <a href="http://blues.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=34545">saving the puppies of St. Louis</a> for another five years!) Now we can potentially see Jeff Jeffty Jeff Carter in the orange and black for not one, not two, but ELEVEN more years. Whoa, Homer, you sure love a long-term contract. When Soph texted me about this development, I nearly dropped my phone and then eloquently responded, "SRSLY?!?!" <div><br /></div><div>We've had a rather rocky relationship with Jeff over the years. First, we were all indifferent to him. There didn't seem to be a huge personality lurking within all that blondeness, so he was branded "Vanilla Bean." (DISS. I'm so not a vanilla girl.) We would even scoff at the in-game pleadings to write him in on the 2009 all-star ballot. (Gosh, we were so cold-hearted!) But THEN! Then <a href="http://slightlysaucy.blogspot.com/2009/04/our-last-game.html">we witnessed his first ever hat trick</a>, and a vague spark was kindled. So much so that we came home and wrote this <strike> abomination </strike> gem. Remember those stellar "Real Men of Genius" Bud Light commercials? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG1CjFoX-8E">Mr. Paranoid of the Ocean Guy</a>? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik6QzSgrqZ4">Mr. Way Too Much Cologne Wearer</a>? Yeah, well, in April 2009, our warped minds made Jeff Carter into "Mr. Really Boring Forty Goal Scorer." (Keep in mind that this was way before "Jeff Carter Sea Isle" was an autofill option on google.) And we can only hope that he resumes his forty goal scorer-ness during the next eleven (!) years.</div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Real men of genius…"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Reeeal men of geeeeenius..."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Today we salute you, Mr. Really Boring Forty Goal Scorer…"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Mr.ReallyBoringFortyGoalScorer!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "The D and the fence were never intended for you. You bring the offensive heat. But after you score a goal, it’s like you’re at the library… working at the reference desk."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Unabridged excitement!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "No </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa9vIQzzg38"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">warming up over a hot stick</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for you, Mr. Cool. In world of leapers and yellers, you know that a simple fist pump gets the job done." <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Simmer down, Ovechkin!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "You’ll never be fined for post-goal celebrations because in your world, a nod is worth a thousand words."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Yeah, I’m awesome!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "If personalities were ice cream, you’d be vanilla bean. But it’s a perfect fit with your linemates: chocolate syrup and whipped cream."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Cake batter’s overrated!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Narrator</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "So we salute you, Mr. Really Boring Forty Goal Scorer, for playing it cool in the most exciting sport. You act like you’ve scored before… because you have. Forty-plus times. And we wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Singer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: "Mr.ReallyBoringFortyGoalScorer!"</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-50119369222748630052010-11-09T02:36:00.006-05:002010-11-09T02:53:22.610-05:00$11.25mil = grilled cheese for all!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TNj7UoQZtzI/AAAAAAAAAhE/TjB3Zi6w8NU/s1600/giroux%2Bat%2Bthe%2Bdraft.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TNj7UoQZtzI/AAAAAAAAAhE/TjB3Zi6w8NU/s320/giroux%2Bat%2Bthe%2Bdraft.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537452073674192690" /></a><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Baby BAMF, poised to take over the world</span></i></span></div></i><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Apparently, Homer has the Official Slightly Saucy phone bugged because <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Soph</span> and I had juuust been talking about how the Flyers need to sign Giroux last night. Ask and ye shall receive! But our psychic awesomeness is beside the point... because our beloved Claude Giroux will be staying in orange and black for another three years. Hooray! It's a good thing JVR's been scratched--he'll have plenty of time to cook up a batch of celebratory grilled cheeses! (Or should that be grilled cheezus?) Hopefully, with another three years of practice, I will remember that one does not cheer when Giroux scores, one "roooooos." (As in, "Gir-oooooooooux!!!!!!")</div><div><br /></div><div>In any case, Soph and I are going to put on our Giroux jerseys/shirts and cartwheel around town. W00t! </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TNj7HFrm3sI/AAAAAAAAAg8/MGzq9T9tXak/s1600/giroux%2Bpicnik.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rKOWsPlGZNQ/TNj7HFrm3sI/AAAAAAAAAg8/MGzq9T9tXak/s320/giroux%2Bpicnik.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537451841054760642" /></a>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427133540762460289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748678109064060644.post-14789396537160962392010-10-20T17:08:00.004-04:002010-10-25T21:56:15.448-04:00Confessions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Kz_mKc7BIT8/TL_QUWmAOCI/AAAAAAAAApE/pIb9y7qXJaM/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Kz_mKc7BIT8/TL_QUWmAOCI/AAAAAAAAApE/pIb9y7qXJaM/s400/DSC_0034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530367915515197474" /></a><br /><div>Hi. My name is Soph and I am a closet Caniac.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been for a couple years now. I'm addicted to their "Ask the Canes" clips. I love <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5QNqJA_mAE">Chad LaRose's Michigan accent</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuO_lTJcheI">Cam Ward's mad dancing skills</a>. E-Staal is my favorite Staal (it's not even close) and it amuses my to no end that he was <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2949057">arrested for yelling at cars</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since the Flyers don't know the way to San Jose this year, I wasn't planning on going to any Sharks games but Jess convinced me that I should check out the schedule anyways (THANK YOU, JESS!!!)</div><div><br /></div>As an early birthday present to myself, I treated my brother and myself to some sweet seats at last night's Sharks-Canes game. I wore my Chad LaRose jersey, which paid off big time. When Rosie came out for warmups and saw what I was wearing, he made beeline towards me to toss me a <a href="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj132/slightlysaucy/DSC_0262.jpg">puck</a>. I never thought I would care about getting a puck but when he flipped it over the glass, I squealed.<div><br /></div><div>By the time the game had started, my brother was trash talking the Sharks while wearing his Sharks jersey. Typical! We had fun and I really missed going to games. It really was a great birthday-eve!</div><br />Sophhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15310784473477614733noreply@blogger.com2